Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Coventry Sphinx

Gresley staged a superb second half performance to come from 3-1 down to draw at home to in-form Coventry Sphinx.

On a bitterly cold evening, a Gresley side, with no shortage of belief, came from behind to claim a point. After two goals from Joel Grandison and a striker from Lewis Noon had given the away side the advantage, Kyle Batchelor’s first-half equaliser and second half-header, coupled with Danny Jones’ instantaneous impact sealed a point for the home side.

It was an exhilarating opening five minutes at the Moat Ground as both sides found the back of the net. It was Sphinx who opened the scoring inside the opening minute, Lewis Noon finding the top corner after Jake McIntosh had slid in and conceded a free kick on the edge of the box.

Yet, the Moatmen responded in the best possible way, levelling matters just four minutes later as a lovely team move was finished off by Kyle Batchelor. Silky feet from Joe Haines resulted in Louis Briscoe picking Lucas Harrison on the left wing with a pinpoint, cross field ball. Harrison collected the ball and crossed in low for Batchelor to tap in.

The game seemed to even out after the goal but neither side could fashion out a decent opening. However, it was Sphinx who would retake the lead as a cross from the left from Callum Woodward found Joel Grandison who nodded down before prodding home from close range.

This seemed to spark Sphinx into life as they took control, and they managed to sucker-punch their opponents just before the break. Just as the clock ticked into first half injury time, Woodward and Grandison combined to devastating effect once again. Woodward’s cross caused havoc before Grandison finished off audaciously back heeling past Allsop.

The second period started rather tepidly, with neither side creating many chances to speak of. Fog clouded the view, but Gresley cleared the path to an equaliser by notching one back just after the hour mark. Substitute, Adam Skeldon crossed in perfectly to the awaiting Kyle Batchelor who nodded in his second of the evening.

This jolted Sphinx and gave belief to Gresley as the two tousled for the momentum. Sphinx substitute, Colin Smith and Scott Hammond both went close, but it was ultimately the home side who found the goal and equaliser. After just entering the fray mere moments before, a scuffed clearance from a free kick saw Danny Jones turn on a sixpence and rifle his effort past Cross.

With the game on a knife-edge both sides believed they could snatch a winner. At one end Danny Jones headed just wide at the far post, whilst Colin Smith had a shot comfortably saved at the other.

However, ultimately an exciting game ended with both sides sharing the spoils with the home side the happier after staring defeat in the face at half-time.